Crimp And Release Of Suture Holding Buttress Material

ABSTRACT

A mechanism is provided for crimping and releasing a suture securing a strip of buttress material to an end effector. The mechanism includes a retention member movably mounted within the end effector. The retention member is movable from a first position crimping the suture to the end effector to a second position releasing the suture from the end effector. The mechanism additionally includes a follower member, engageable with the retention member, and movable in response to actuation of a surgical instrument to move the retention member between the first and second positions. A lock mechanism is also provided to secure the retention member in the first position. The follower member operates to disengage the lock mechanism.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application claimingthe benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/414,943, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application claimingthe benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/414,931, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

The present application is a Continuation-in-Part application claimingthe benefit of and priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/414,961, filed on Mar. 31, 2009, the entire content of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a system of attaching and releasingbuttress material from an anvil. More particularly, the presentdisclosure relates to a retention and release mechanism for crimping anddisengaging a buttress material retention suture from the anvil.

2. Background of Related Art

During various surgical procedures it is often necessary to reattach twosides of tissue. This is typically accomplished by approximating twoedges of the tissues flush against one another and securing them bystapling, suturing, etc. In some instances, the staple or suture lineconnecting the tissues may tear or pull through the tissues,particularly, where the tissues are relatively weak. Additionally,during healing, leakage may occur through the staple or suture lines.

In order to alleviate these problems, a strip of material, called“buttress material” is positioned against the tissues prior to staplingor suturing. The buttress material tends to reinforce the staple orsuture line as well as cover the juncture of the tissues to preventleakage prior to healing.

In certain minimally invasive surgical procedures the buttress materialmay be pre-attached to the surgical instrument being used. For example,the buttress material can be attached to a staple cartridge or anvilassembly of a surgical stapling instrument. The buttress material isretained by various means such as, for example, adhesives, etc.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cartridge or an anvil assemblyincorporating a suture retention and release mechanism which allows foreasy assembly, easy retention, and/or subsequent release of a buttressmaterial retention suture after tissues have been stapled.

SUMMARY

There is disclosed a surgical instrument generally including a handlemember having a movable part or trigger mounted to the handle member andan elongate tubular member extending distally from the handle member. Anend effector assembly is mounted on a distal end of the elongate tubularmember. The end effector assembly includes a first member having anunder side and a top side, the underside having a face. A strip ofbuttress material is positioned against the face of the first member. Aretention component is provided having a backspan and first and secondends extending from the backspan. The backspan is positioned across thestrip of buttress material and the first end extends from the undersideto the top side of the first member.

The top side of the first member, in certain embodiments, includes ahead and a pocket located proximal to the head. The retention member maybe movably mounted in the pocket and the first end of the retentioncomponent can be releasably secured between a proximal face of the headand the distal face of the retention member. The retention memberincludes a push plate in certain embodiments, the push plate having adistal face, and the first end of the retention component is releasablysecured between the distal face of the push plate and the proximal faceof the head.

In one embodiment, the first member includes a clearance track such thatthe first end of the retention component passes from the underside ofthe first member to the top side of the first member through theclearance track. In a specific embodiment, the clearance track passesthrough the pocket.

The first member desirably further includes a pair of side wallsdefining a channel, each sidewall having a distal face. The retentionmember may include a tab movable between the channel and the pocket suchthat a proximal face of the tab engages a distal face of the sidewallwhen the tab is in the pocket.

The retention member, in certain embodiments, includes a flexible legand the tab is located on a distal end of the flexible leg. The flexibleleg is in a constrained condition when in the channel and in an expandedcondition when the tab is distal of the distal face of the side wall.The retention member further includes a bar extending from the pushplate to a proximal end of the flexible leg such that the tab is withinthe channel in a proximal position and in engagement with the distalface of the side wall in a distal position to lock the push plate intoengagement with the first end of the retention component.

The retention and release mechanism may further include a followermovable within the channel. The follower is engageable with the flexibleleg to move the flexible leg between the constrained and expandedconditions.

In one embodiment, the retention member includes a second flexible legaffixed to the proximal end of the bar. The second flexible leg alsoincludes a tab engageable with one of the distal faces of the sidewalls.

In another embodiment, the first member has a second clearance tracksuch that the second end of the retention component passes from theunderside of the first member to the top side of the first memberthrough the second clearance track.

In a specific embodiment, the strip of buttress material includes firstand second cutouts for passage of the first and second ends of theretention component.

A retention member is movably mounted on the top side of the firstmember such that the first end of the retention component is releasablysecured between a distal face of the retention member and a proximalface of the first member. The retention component can include alaterally movable tab for engaging the first member.

In certain embodiments, the movable part or trigger of the surgicalinstrument is operable to move the retention member from a firstposition securing the first and second ends of the retention componentbetween a distal face of the retention member and a proximal face of thefirst member to a second position allowing the retention member to moveaway from the first and second ends of the retention component.

In certain embodiments, the first member is an anvil member and theinstrument includes a surgical stapling cartridge. The retention membermay have a locked position, securing the retention component. Theretention member has at least one tab for maintaining the retentionmember in the locked position. The at least one tab may be laterallymovable to engage the anvil member. In certain embodiments, theinstrument includes a follower for moving the at least one tab, allowingmovement of the retention member away from the locked position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the presently disclosed suture retention and releasemechanism for use with a buttressed anvil assembly is disclosed hereinwith reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical stapling instrument having abuttressed anvil assembly incorporating a suture retention and releasemechanism;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, taken from below, of a distal end of thebuttressed anvil assembly including a strip of buttress material and aretention suture;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the distal end of the buttressed anvilassembly similar to

FIG. 2 with parts separated;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, taken from above, of the distal end of thebuttressed anvil assembly with an anvil cover removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 4, with parts separated;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the distal end of the buttressed anvilassembly;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the distal end of the buttressed anvilassembly illustrating securement of the retention suture by the sutureretention and release mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the distal end of the buttressed anvilassembly illustrating initial release of the suture retention andrelease mechanism; and

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the distal end of the buttressed anvilassembly illustrating release of the retention suture.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the presently disclosed retention and release mechanismfor use in a buttressed anvil assembly will now be described in detailwith reference to the drawings wherein like numerals designate identicalor corresponding elements in each of the several views. As is common inthe art, the term ‘proximal” refers to that part or component closer tothe user or operator, i.e. surgeon or physician, while the term “distal”refers to that part or component further away from the user.

Referring to FIGS. 1-9, and initially with regard to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a surgical stapling instrument 10 incorporating anembodiment of the presently disclosed suture retention and releasemechanism. Surgical stapling instrument 10 generally includes a pistolgrip style handle 12 having an elongate tubular member 14 extendingdistally from handle 12. An end effector assembly 16 extends distallyfrom a distal end 18 of elongate tubular member 14. End effectorassembly 16 has a pair of end effectors including a buttressed anvilassembly 20 and a staple cartridge 22. Buttressed anvil assembly 20 ismovably mounted relative to staple cartridge 22 and is movable from anopen position spaced apart from staple cartridge 22 to a closed positionbringing buttressed anvil assembly 20 into close cooperative alignmentwith staple cartridge 22. A movable part or trigger 24 is provided onhandle 12 and is operable to move buttressed anvil assembly 20 betweenthe open and closed positions. Additionally, trigger 24 is operable toactuate staple cartridge 22 in order to eject staples (not shown)contained in staple cartridge 22 from staple cartridge 22 into staplecrimping pockets (FIG. 3) on buttressed anvil assembly 20 in a mannerdescribed in more detail herein below. A rotation knob 26 is provided onhandle 12 to rotate elongate tubular member 16 and thereby orient endeffector assembly 16 relative to a tissue being operated upon.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, buttressed anvil assembly 20 generallyincludes an anvil member 28 having a strip of buttress material 30positioned on an underside 32 of anvil member 28. Specifically, strip ofbuttress material 30 is positioned to lie on an anvil face 34 of anvilmember 28. A retention component 36 is provided to maintain and securestrip of buttress material 30 in contact with anvil face 34 of anvilmember 28 prior to stapling of tissue. Retention component 36 cancomprise a strap, a suture, a thread, a cable, etc., and includes abackspan 38 and first and second ends 40 and 42, respectively, extendingfrom backspan 38. Backspan 38 engages strip of buttress material 30 tohold strip of buttress material 30 against anvil face 34. First end 40and second end 42 pass through clearance tracks such as first and secondclearance tracks 44 and 46 formed in anvil member 28 and are secured toanvil member 28 in a manner described in more detail herein below. Itshould be noted that first and second clearance tracks 44 and 46,respectively, are dimensioned to allow first end 40 and second end 42 ofretention component 36 to pass freely there through without binding orcinching within first clearance track 44 and second clearance track 46.Alternatively, one of first and second ends 40 and 42 of retentioncomponent 36 may be cinched or otherwise attached to anvil member 28 toretain retention component 36 with anvil member 28 upon removal of theoperative site. Retention component 36 can be flexible, resilient, orrigid. Retention component 36 can be separate from, or integrally formedwith the buttress material 30.

Strip of buttress material 30 includes first and second cutouts 48 and50 for passage of first and second ends 40 and 42 of retention component36 to prevent bunching or rolling of strip of buttress material 30.Strip of buttress material 30 and retention component 36 are formed ofany commonly know materials used for buttress materials and suturesgenerally, including absorbable, resorbable materials, etc.

Referring for the moment to FIG. 3, anvil face 34 of anvil member 28 isprovided with a plurality of staple clinching pockets 52 which serve toreceive and clinch free ends of staples (not shown) ejected from staplecartridge 22 (FIG. 1) in a manner commonly known in staplinginstruments. Additionally, a knife slot 54 extends completely through asubstantial portion of anvil member 28 to accommodate passage of a knifeblade (not shown) to sever tissue as well as sever strip of buttressmaterial 30 down its length. When strip of buttress material 30 extendsdistally beyond a distal end 56 of knife slot 54, it is contemplatedthat a distal end 58 of strip of buttress material 30 will beperforated, slotted or otherwise constructed to allow strip of buttressmaterial 30 to be separated into two halves in line with that portioncut by the knife blade.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, and as noted above, buttressed anvilassembly 20 is provided with a retention and release mechanism 60 tosecure and release retention component or suture 36 (FIG. 2) fromengagement with anvil member 28. A top side 62 of anvil member 28includes a pocket 64 formed between an head 66, formed in a distal end68 of anvil member 28, and a pair of side walls 70 and 72, respectively,located proximal to pocket 64. Side walls 70 and 72 define a channel 74therebetween. Knife slot 54 extends through channel 74 to a proximal end76 of pocket 64 (FIG. 5). As shown, clearance tracks 44 and 46 passthrough a distal end 78 of pocket 64.

Retention and release mechanism 60 includes a retention member 80positioned within pocket 64 and channel 74. Retention member 80 isprovided to secure first and second ends 40 and 42 of retentioncomponent 36 against head 66. Retention member 80 includes a rectangularpush plate 82 positioned within pocket 64 and oriented perpendicular toa long axis of anvil member 28. A bar 84 extends proximally from pushplate 82 and extends into channel 74. A pair of flexible arms 86 and 88extend distally from an enlarged proximal end 90 of bar 84. Flexiblearms 86 and 88 assist in securing push plate 82 distally within pocket64 and against retention component 36. A pair of tabs 92 and 94 extendoutwardly from flexible arms 86 and 88, respectively, and are providedto engage respective side walls 70 and 72 when push plate is in a distalposition within pocket 64.

Retention member 80 may be formed from a variety of materials such as,for example, plastics, shape memory materials or alloys or other suchmaterials which would allow arms 86 and 88 to flex while maintainingsufficient rigidity to push plate 82 to secure retention component 36against head 66.

Retention and release mechanism 60 further includes a follower 96positioned proximally within channel 74 relative to retention member 80.In the embodiment shown, follower 96 is U-shaped and includes a base 98and legs 100 and 102 extending distally from base 98. Legs 100 and 102are provided to engage and squeeze flexible arms 86 and 88 of retentionmember 80 in order to assist in releasing tabs 92 and 94 from engagementwith side walls 70 and 72. This allows push plate 82 to disengage fromretention component 36 in a manner described in more detail below.U-shaped follower 96 may be formed of a variety of relatively rigidmaterials such as, for example, plastics, stainless steels, etc. so asto have sufficient strength to compress flexible arms 86 and 88retention member 80.

Referring specifically for the moment to FIG. 5, a distal end 104 of bar84 extends from a center 106 of push plate 82. Inner surfaces 108 and110 of legs 100 and 102 engage respective outer surfaces 112 and 114 offlexible arms 86 and 88 to collapse or force them inwardly toward bar84.

With reference back to FIG. 4, in order to maintain retention member 80and U-shaped follower 96 within anvil member 28, buttressed anvilassembly 20 further includes a cover 116 having a longitudinal proximalend 118 which overlies channel 74 in anvil member 28. An enlargedrectangular distal end 120 of cover 116 fits into pocket 64, overretention member 80, and may be snap fit, welded, glued, etc. Cutouts122 and 124 are provided in enlarged rectangular distal end 120 to allowpassage of first and second ends 40 and 42 of retention component 36 inorder to trim any excess suture material flush with cover 116.

Now, with reference to FIGS. 2-3 and 6-9, and initially with regard toFIG. 6, the assembly and use of buttressed anvil assembly 20 will now bedescribed. In the preassembled condition, a portion of retention member80 is in a proximal position within channel 74. Specifically, tabs 92and 94 are located within channel 74 causing flexible arms 86 and 88 tobe in a stressed or constrained condition within channel 74. Follower 96is also in a proximal position within channel 74.

Referring for the moment to FIG. 3, initially, strip of buttressmaterial 30 is placed over anvil face 34 of anvil member 28. Retentioncomponent 36 is positioned over strip of buttress material 30 such thatbackspan 38 of retention component 36 engages strip of buttress material30 to hold strip of buttress material 30 against anvil face 34 (see FIG.2). As noted herein above, strip of buttress material 30 is providedwith cutouts 48 and 50 to receive first and second ends 40 and 42,respectively, of retention component 36 in order to prevent bunching orwrinkling of strip of buttress material 30.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, thereafter, first and second ends 40and 42 of retention component 36 are wrapped or passed throughrespective clearance tracks 44 and 46, formed in anvil member 28, untilfirst and second ends 40 and 42 of retention component 36 are fullyseated within clearance tracks 44 and 46. As noted herein above,clearance tracks 44 and 46 are dimensioned to loosely receive first andsecond ends 40 and 42 of retention component 36 without any pinching orcinching of first and second ends 40 and 42 within clearance tracks 44and 46.

Referring now to FIG. 7, in order to secure retention component 36 toanvil member 28 and, specifically, secure first and second ends 40 and42 within anvil member 28, retention member 80 is manually advanceddistally to move push plate 82 through pocket 64 towards head 66.Retention member 80 is advanced distally until distal face 130 of pushplate 82 captures first and second ends 40 and 42 of retention component36 against proximal face 132 of head 66. In this manner, retentioncomponent 36, and thus strip of buttress material 30, is secured toanvil member 28.

As noted here in above, tabs 92 and 94 are provided in order to lockretention member 80 in the distal position. As retention member 80 ismoved distally within channel 74 and pocket 64, tabs 92 and 94 move outof channel 74 and into pocket 64. As tabs 92 and 94 move out of channel74, flexible arms 86 and 88 are free to move from the constrainedcondition to an open or expanded condition moving tabs 92 and 94outwardly within pocket 64 until proximal faces 134 and 136 of tabs 92and 94 engage distal faces 138 and 140 of first and second side walls 70and 72. In this position, retention member 80 is locked in a distal mostposition securing retention component 36 to anvil member 28. As notedhere in above, prior to use, follower 96 remains in a proximal positionwithin channel 74.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the use of surgical instrument 10and, in particular, buttressed anvil assembly 20, will now be described.With reference to FIG. 1, in an initial position, buttressed anvilassembly 20 is in a spaced apart condition from staple cartridge 22.Thereafter, while not specifically shown, surgical instrument 10 ismanipulated to position staple cartridge 22 and buttressed anvilassembly 20 about tissue to be stapled. Trigger 24 is then actuated tomove buttressed anvil assembly 22 from the open positioned spaced fromstaple cartridge 22 to the closed position in close cooperativesalignment with staple cartridge 22 and about the tissue. Furtheractuation of trigger 24 serves to eject staples from staple cartridge 22through the tissue and strip of buttress material 30 and into stapleclenching pockets 52 formed in anvil face 34 (FIG. 3). As staples areejected into clenching pockets 52, a knife blade passes through knifeslot 54 to sever the stapled tissue and strip of buttress material 30.As noted herein above, in the event that strip of buttress material 30is not completely severed by the knife blade, a perforation line may beformed in distal end 58 of strip of buttress material 30 to allow stripof buttress material to fully separate into two halves.

Referring now to FIG. 8, as a knife blade, such as, for example, knifeblade 142 moves distally within channel 54, a distal end 144 of knifeblade 142 engages backspan 98 of follower 96. Distal movement of knifeblade 142 forces follower 96 distally within channel 74 causing follower96 to engage retention member 80. Specifically, as follower 96 movesdistally, inner surfaces 108 and 110 of respective legs 100 and 102engage outer surfaces 112 and 114 of flexible arms 86 and 88 ofretention member 80. This causes flexible arms 86 and 88 to be forcedinwardly toward the constrained condition pulling tabs 92 and 94inwardly toward bar 84.

Referring now to FIG. 9, as follower 96 is fully advanced over legs 86and 88 of retention member 80, tabs 92 and 94 are moved to a fullyinward position disengaging proximal faces 134 and 136 of tabs 92 and 94from distal faces 138 and 140 of side walls 70 and 72. This “unlocks”retention member 80, allowing the retention member to move away from itslocked position, releasing the pressure of push plate 82 from first andsecond ends 40 and 42 of retention component 36. In this condition,first and second ends 40 and 42 can be pulled free of clearance tracks44 and 46 to thereby release retention component 36 and a strip ofbuttress material 30 from anvil member 28.

In the situation wherein follower 96 is formed of a penetrable materialsuch as, for example, a plastic material, distal end 144 of knife blade142 will penetrate backspan 98 of follower 96. Proximal movement ofknife blade 142 through knife channel 54 draws follower 96, and thusretention member 80, proximally pulling push plate 82 further away fromfirst and second ends 40 and 42 of retention suture 36 to therebyfurther release retention component 36 from anvil member 28. In thismanner, retention and release mechanism 60 functions to initially secureretention suture 36, and thus strip of buttress material 30, to anvilmember 28 and, upon subsequent operation of surgical instrument 10,allow retention suture 36 and strip of buttress material 30 to bereleased from anvil member 28.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made to theembodiments disclosed herein. For example, as noted herein above, onlyone end of the retention component need be free to be released from theanvil member while the opposing end of the retention component or suturemay be secured to the anvil member, such as by use of adhesive orretention in a cinch slot. Further, the disclosed retention member mayutilize only one flexible leg to secure the retention member in a distalposition. Additionally, other means of engaging the knife blade with thedisclosed follower can be provided such as, for example, magnetic,adhesives, etc. to allow the knife blade to move the follower to aproximal position within the disclosed anvil member. Further, in certainembodiments a separate activation bar or pusher is provided to releaseretention member 80 discussed above in connection with FIGS. 1, 8 and 9,independently from the actuation of the surgical stapling instrument 10.Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting,but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilledin the art will envision other modifications within the scope and spiritof the claims appended hereto.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An end effector assembly operatively connectable toa handle of a surgical instrument, the end effector assembly comprising:a cartridge assembly; and an anvil assembly disposed in juxtaposedrelation to the cartridge assembly, the anvil assembly including: ananvil member having a tissue contacting surface, the anvil memberdefining a plurality of staple forming pockets in the tissue contactingsurface; a strip of buttress material disposed against the tissuecontracting surface and overlying at least some of the staple formingpockets; a retention component extending across a surface of the stripof buttress material, the retention component including at least one endextending into the tissue contacting surface of the anvil member; and aretention member slidably supported adjacent the anvil member, theretention member including: a retaining position, wherein the retentionmember engages the at least one end of the retention component against asurface of the anvil member to secure the strip of buttress material tothe anvil member; and a releasing position, wherein the retention memberdisengages from the at least one end of the retention compound to freethe strip of buttress material from the anvil member; wherein theretention member is moved from the retaining position to the releaseposition during a firing of the surgical instrument.
 22. The endeffector assembly according to claim 21, wherein the retention componentis a suture.
 23. The end effector assembly according to claim 21,wherein the retention member includes: a pair of opposed resilient arms,wherein when the retention component is in the first position, theresilient arms project into respective apertures defined in the anvilmember to retain the position of the retention member.
 24. The endeffector assembly according to claim 23, wherein the pair of resilientarms are biased towards one another to release the retention member fromthe respective apertures to free the at least one end of the retentioncomponent.
 25. The end effector assembly according to claim 24, whereinthe anvil assembly includes a release member supported adjacent theanvil member, the release member being actuated upon a firing of thesurgical instrument to engage the pair of resilient arms and bias thepair of resilient arms towards one another.
 26. The end effectorassembly according to claim 25, wherein the release member includes apair of spaced apart legs configured to engage respective ones of thepair of resilient arms upon a distal advancement of the release memberupon a firing of the surgical instrument.
 27. The end effector assemblyaccording to claim 22, wherein the retention component includes a backspan and a pair of ends, each extending into the tissue contactingsurface of the anvil member.
 28. The end effector assembly according toclaim 27, wherein the pair of resilient arms of the retention memberengage respective ones of the pair of ends of the retention component tosecure the strip of buttress material to the anvil member.
 29. The endeffector assembly according to claim 28, wherein the retention memberincludes: a pair of opposed resilient arms, wherein when the retentioncomponent is in the first position, the resilient arms project intorespective apertures defined in the anvil member to retain the positionof the retention member.
 30. The end effector assembly according toclaim 29, wherein the pair of resilient arms are biased towards oneanother to release the retention member from the respective apertures tofree the at least one end of the retention component.
 31. The endeffector assembly according to claim 30, wherein the anvil assemblyincludes a release member supported adjacent the anvil member, therelease member being actuated upon a firing of the surgical instrumentto engage the pair of resilient arms and bias the pair of resilient armstowards one another.
 32. An end effector assembly operativelyconnectable to a handle of a surgical stapling instrument, the endeffector assembly comprising: an anvil assembly having an anvil memberdefining a plurality of staple forming pockets formed in a tissuecontacting surface thereof; a strip of buttress material overlying atleast some of the staple forming pockets; a retention component at leastpartially overlying the strip of buttress material and at leastpartially extending past the strip of buttress material and into theanvil member; and a retention member supported on the anvil member,wherein the retention member includes a retention position for engagingthe retention component extending into the anvil member to retain thestrip of buttress material against the anvil member, and a releaseposition for disengaging the retention component extending into theanvil member to release the strip of buttress material from the anvilmember.
 33. The end effector assembly according to claim 32, wherein theretention component is a suture.
 34. The end effector assembly accordingto claim 32, wherein the retention member includes: a pair of opposedresilient arms, wherein when the retention component is in the firstposition, the resilient arms project into respective apertures definedin the anvil member to retain the position of the retention member. 35.The end effector assembly according to claim 34, wherein the pair ofresilient arms are biased towards one another to release the retentionmember from the respective apertures to free the at least one end of theretention component.
 36. The end effector assembly according to claim35, wherein the anvil assembly includes a release member supportedadjacent the anvil member, the release member being actuated upon afiring of the surgical instrument to engage the pair of resilient armsand bias the pair of resilient arms towards one another.
 37. The endeffector assembly according to claim 36, wherein the release memberincludes a pair of spaced apart legs configured to engage respectiveones of the pair of resilient arms upon a distal advancement of therelease member upon a firing of the surgical instrument.
 38. The endeffector assembly according to claim 33, wherein the retention componentincludes a back span and a pair of ends, each extending into the tissuecontacting surface of the anvil member.
 39. The end effector assemblyaccording to claim 38, wherein the pair of resilient arms of theretention member engage respective ones of the pair of ends of theretention component to secure the strip of buttress material to theanvil member.
 40. The end effector assembly according to claim 39,wherein the retention member includes: a pair of opposed resilient arms,wherein when the retention component is in the first position, theresilient arms project into respective apertures defined in the anvilmember to retain the position of the retention member.
 41. The endeffector assembly according to claim 40, wherein the pair of resilientarms are biased towards one another to release the retention member fromthe respective apertures to free the at least one end of the retentioncomponent.
 42. The end effector assembly according to claim 41, whereinthe anvil assembly includes a release member supported adjacent theanvil member, the release member being actuated upon a firing of thesurgical instrument to engage the pair of resilient arms and bias thepair of resilient arms towards one another.
 43. An end effector assemblyoperatively connectable to a handle of a surgical stapling instrument,the end effector assembly comprising: an anvil assembly having an anvilmember defining a plurality of staple forming pockets formed in a tissuecontacting surface thereof; a strip of buttress material overlying atleast some of the staple forming pockets; a retention component at leastpartially overlying the strip of buttress material and at leastpartially extending past the strip of buttress material and into theanvil member; and a retention and release mechanism supported on theanvil member, the retention and release mechanism including: a retentionmember having a retention position for engaging the retention componentextending into the anvil member to retain the strip of buttress materialagainst the anvil member, and a release position for disengaging theretention component extending into the anvil member to release the stripof buttress material from the anvil member; the retention memberincluding a pair of opposed resilient arms, wherein when the retentioncomponent is in the first position, the resilient arms project intorespective apertures defined in the anvil member to retain the positionof the retention member; and a release member actuated upon a firing ofthe surgical instrument to engage the pair of resilient arms and biasthe pair of resilient arms towards one another to release the retentionmember from the respective apertures to free the at least one end of theretention component.